Jul 22, 2026
BY Chuan En Gwee

For One Piece fans, Japan is not just a shopping destination. It is a real-life Grand Line: official stores, limited-time cafés, manga exhibitions, theme-park shows, and one of the best anime pilgrimage routes in the country. Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto all have excellent options, but the most memorable One Piece trip may actually take you to Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Sendai, Sapporo, and even Makuhari in Chiba.
So whether you have followed the manga and anime for years, or are a recent convert from the Netflix One Piece Live-Action production, we have put together a practical guide to the best places in Japan for fans of the manga, anime, and broader One Piece world.

Unveiling of the Luffy Statue in Kumamoto – Photo Credit: Discover Kumamoto (Ki ni naru! Kumamoto) YouTube
We start at the birthplace of Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece. After a series of strong earthquakes struck Kumamoto Prefecture in 2016, Oda sent out an open and heartfelt message of support, promising that he would “definitely help with the relief efforts”. This culminated in the official ONE PIECE Kumamoto Reconstruction Project and has since expanded into the installation of life-size bronze statues of the Straw Hat crew across the prefecture.
Today, fans like you can visit 10 Straw Hat statues across Kumamoto: Luffy at the Kumamoto Prefectural Government Office, Chopper at Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Sanji in Mashiki Town, Brook in Mifune Town, Zoro in Ozu Town, Nami in Nishihara Village, Robin in Minamiaso Village, Usopp at Aso Station, Franky at Takamori Station, and Jinbe at Sumiyoshi Kaigan Park in Uto City.
Best for: Hardcore fans, repeat visitors to Japan, families, anime pilgrimage travelers
How long to spend: 1 day for a few statues; 2–3 days for the full route
Travel tip: Rent a car if you want to see all 10 statues efficiently. Some are near stations, but the full set is spread across the prefecture.
Beyond the statue pilgrimage, Kumamoto also has an official ONE PIECE Mugiwara (麦藁 or straw hat) Store inside AMU Plaza Kumamoto, making it one of the best areas in Japan to combine One Piece sightseeing with official merchandise shopping.
Address: AMU Plaza Kumamoto 6F, 3-15-26 Kasuga, Nishi Ward, Kumamoto 860-0047

Mugiwara Store Shibuya – Photo Credit: Mugiwara Store
Speaking of Mugiwara Stores, these are the ultimate treasure troves for One Piece fans in Japan, as they are the best places to hunt down official merchandise, exclusive character goods, limited-edition releases, and enough Straw Hat-themed souvenirs to make any fan feel like they’ve found the One Piece.
They also offer apparel, collectibles, and, occasionally, life-sized character figures for photos. Major branches include ones in Shibuya (main store), Ikebukuro, and Osaka.
With 5 stores in Kanto (Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Odaiba, Tokyo Station, Harajuku), 3 stores in Kansai (Abeno Osaka, Umeda, Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi), and more throughout Japan (Nagoya PARCO, Fukuoka, and the aforementioned Kumamoto), no matter where your journey to Japan takes you, you’ll never be too far from one of these specialty stores!
Website: https://www.mugiwara-store.com/store/
Selected addresses:

Luffy Performer on Stage with Pyrotechnics – Photo Credit: Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan (USJ) needs no introduction, but for One Piece fans, it becomes something much more special each summer: the home of One Piece Premier Summer, one of Japan’s biggest recurring One Piece events. In 2026, it is scheduled to run from 30 July to 19 November, featuring highlights such as the One Piece Premier Show 2026 and Sanji’s Pirate Restaurant.
The One Piece Premier Show is USJ’s spectacular live-action stage production, bringing the Straw Hat Pirates to life for 80 thrilling minutes of action, drama, and excitement! Expect exhilarating stunt battles, dramatic water effects, special effects, and an original park-exclusive storyline. This all culminates in one of the most immersive One Piece experiences fans can have in Japan.
For fans of Sanji who are eager to try his cooking, USJ will be hosting Sanji’s Pirate Restaurant for the same 2026 season, held at Lombard’s Landing.
More than just a themed menu, this is a full live entertainment experience, with Sanji personally welcoming guests in his passionate, gentlemanly style. Similar to some fancy restaurants, it has fixed seating sessions (lasting about 85 minutes), where guests enter for a specific timed session rather than dining freely whenever they want. A separate paid ticket is also required.
Characters from One Piece also appear around the dining room during the session, turning lunch or dinner into part meal, part performance, and part fan-service spectacle.
Best for: anime fans, families, couples, Sanji fans, theme-park travelers
Book early: the restaurant and show are popular and may require separate timed tickets.

One Piece Feature Wall at JUMP Shop in Osaka – Photo Credit: kuremo
Manga fans would be well aware that One Piece has been a mainstay of the Weekly Shōnen Jump (or English: WEEKLY JUMP) magazine since 1997, and is the longest-running series ever featured in the magazine. As such, the JUMP SHOP is another essential stop for One Piece fans.
These official Shueisha-authorized shops sell original goods from One Piece and other Jump titles, and are especially good for fans who love the manga side of One Piece, because many items use original manga-style artwork and Jump-exclusive designs.
For One Piece fans, JUMP SHOPs are great places to look for official character goods, acrylic stands, badges, stationery, apparel, manga-themed items, limited releases, and shop-exclusive merchandise. Some branches also have photo spots or character displays; the newer Ikebukuro PARCO location, for example, has a Luffy statue that you can take pictures with.
The official JUMP SHOP store list includes locations in cities such as Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka. With branches spread across more regions, JUMP SHOPs give fans more chances to hunt for official One Piece goods throughout their Japan trip.
Website: https://jumpshop-benelic.com/pages/shop
Selected addresses:

ONE PIECE CAFE GENE Food and Drink Menu Items – Photo Credit: PARCO
Like many other anime and manga franchises, One Piece often does pop-up collaboration cafés rather than permanent ones, so fans should check for ongoing events before traveling.
A recent example is ONE PIECE CAFE GENE, a collaboration café held through PARCO. In Shibuya, it ran for 3 months from February to May 2026, and the Nagoya/Osaka cafés were available until June 2026.
These cafés usually feature character-inspired food, drinks, special menus, and café-exclusive merchandise (Cafe Gene’s menu included collectible acrylic stands, badges, keychains, die-cut stickers, tote bags, and more).
Part of the appeal is that each café event feels transient and thus way more special. Menus, designs, and novelty items often change from one collaboration to the next, making these cafés especially popular with fans who love limited-edition goods and seasonal experiences.
Best cities to check for collab cafés: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka
Planning tip: search the official One Piece site, PARCO cafés, and Collabo Café before your trip because café runs are often limited-time.

Large Collection of Anime Action Figures on Display – Photo Credit: William Wallace
If your travel dates are flexible, plan around one of these major events!
ONE PIECE DAY is one of the biggest official events of the year for One Piece fans. This year’s edition is scheduled for the weekend of 22-23 August 2026 at the Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Chiba. The event brings together exhibitions, stage programs, merchandise, game areas, giveaways, and major franchise announcements under one roof. Chiba is outside central Tokyo but easily accessible by train, making it a good addition to a Tokyo-area trip.
If your visit to Japan is in December, be sure to check out Jump Festa, another major event for Shōnen Jump fans. It is also held at Makuhari Messe and usually takes place on the weekend before Christmas. For 2026, this likely means 19-20 December, though this is still to be confirmed. The convention often includes One Piece stage programming, merchandise, announcements, and even voice actor appearances. The official Jump Festa shop also sells limited and early-release Jump goods.
Furthermore, at Jump Festa, it is common to see fans in cosplay or character-inspired outfits, including One Piece cosplayers. While it is typically free to attend (unlike ONE PIECE DAY), entry typically requires advance application through the official ticket system, so fans should check the latest rules well before their trip.
Time your trip right, and you could experience One Piece at its most energetic: surrounded by fellow fans, exclusive goods, live stages, and the unmistakable buzz of a major Japanese anime event.
Best for: serious One Piece fans, collectors, event-goers, cosplay watchers, voice actor fans, and travelers who want to experience Japanese anime fandom on a grand scale.
Travel tip: if you are planning around either event, book your accommodation early. Staying near Tokyo Station, Kaihin-Makuhari, or along the Keiyo Line can make the journey to Makuhari Messe easier.
Websites:
https://onepiece-day.onepiece-base.com/
Address: Makuhari Messe, 2 Chome-1 Nakase, Mihama Ward, Chiba, 261-8550

Limited-edition One Piece Print – Photo Credit: Shueisha Manga-Art Heritage
For manga-focused fans, it is also worth looking out for official exhibitions rather than only visiting anime shops. In 2026, one of the most meaningful examples was the One Piece Kumamoto Reconstruction Project 10th Anniversary Exhibition, held at the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art from 20 March to 24 May 2026.
The exhibition celebrated 10 years of the project that brought the Straw Hat crew statues to Kumamoto, with displays exploring the statue production process and the connection between One Piece and the prefecture’s post-earthquake recovery.
Other recent examples include Eiichiro Oda’s ONE PIECE / The Scroll II, held at Benrido Collotype Gallery in Kyoto from 14 November to 13 December 2025, with free admission by reservation.
For fans who appreciate manga as art, Shueisha Manga-Art Heritage Tokyo Gallery is a more refined One Piece stop in Tokyo. Operated by Shueisha, the publisher behind Weekly Shōnen Jump, the gallery showcases limited-edition manga art prints from major titles, including One Piece.
Located in Azabudai Hills, it presents manga panels, illustrations, and printed works as collectible art pieces. Exhibitions rotate, so One Piece may not always be on display, but manga-focused fans should definitely check the current schedule before visiting.
Best for: manga readers, art fans, repeat Japan travelers, fans interested in Oda’s illustrations rather than only merchandise.
Planning tip: exhibitions are usually temporary, so check official One Piece news before finalizing your itinerary.
Address: Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A B1, 5-8-1 Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0001

Man Holding Straw Hats’ Jolly Roger Flag – Photo Credit: Algi Febri Sugita
From the Straw Hat statues of Kumamoto to the official Mugiwara Stores, JUMP SHOPs, USJ shows, collaboration cafés, and major fan events at Makuhari Messe, Japan offers One Piece fans far more than a simple merchandise hunt. The best trips combine a little bit of everything: shopping for official goods, visiting places connected to Eiichiro Oda and the series’ history, joining limited-time events, and soaking in the energy of Japanese fandom alongside fellow fans. Whether you are planning your first anime-themed trip to Japan or returning for a deeper pilgrimage, following the Straw Hats across the country is one of the most memorable ways to turn your Japan journey into a real-life One Piece adventure!
Featured Photo Credit: CC PD


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